bob, in all the complaining about this fbi investigation and whether or not they told congress about the petraeus situation soon enough, is there just the tiniest little hint in there, that this scandal, if it had come out sooner, might have affected the election? >> i don't really think it would be, quite frankly, because i don't think it had much to do with what the campaign was all about. this campaign was about the economy, about jobs. it was about a lot of things and i do not think that the head of the cia resigning would have made all that much difference. i may be totally wrong about that, but i just don't think it would have. >> i think you're probably right. let's talk about the fiscal cliff, because i'm trying to figure out just how much compromise is actually on the table, because despite accommodating rhetoric, both sides seem to be digging in they're heels, not too far away from where they were last year. >> i think that's exactly right, derek. i think what you saw is both sides, there has to be a beginning. you have to lay out your opening positions and that's what you